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Mark presents the healing of Bartimaeus right after a crisis experienced by the disciples of Jesus. In the preceeding passages, Jesus' prediction of His impending passion is followed by His disciples' lack of understanding as to the true nature and implications of His messiahship. Their failure to grasp Jesus' messiahship is made manifest in their squabble over the right to sit with Jesus in His Kingdom. The healing of Bartimaues just before Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is used as a symbolic expression to show that the disciples need to be healed of their blindness. Just like the disciples, in our efforts to follow Jesus we too are in need of constant healing both spiritually and intellectually. We need healing from our persistent propensity to draw all things to ourselves, from our self centeredness, from our desire for power over ourselves and others. We need to be healed from the contemporary social, cultural and political forces that blind us from authentically relating to Jesus and expressing our Christian identity. What are some of the areas in my own life that is yearning for healing so that I may grow in my discipleship of Jesus. Lord, heal me from my own blindness so that I may follow You more closely. Amen. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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That young married couples may be sustained by the example and assistance of their parents and other families
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The testimony and help that parents and other families must offer to sustain young married couples finds its place in the ambit of post-matrimonial pastoral care. Parents and other families are the most suited to offer this assistance to young spouses because clearly they have lived personally the values which they must transmit. These parents show faithfulness through living in the best possible way the commitments assumed during their marriage. One could ask, but why is it necessary for young couples to be sustained by the testimony of their parents and other families? The answer is, because today there are many negative attitudes which scandalise and discourage young people. Being new to the condition of matrimonial life they need advice, encouragement, moral support, correction and prayer. They cannot be left alone or abandoned in this phase of their lives. Couples need to take advantage of the wealth of the experience and wisdom of their parents. "The pastoral action of the Church must be progressive, also in the sense that it must accompany the family, following it step by step in the various stages of its formation and development," (Familiaris Consortio n65, 69). | |
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